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Oakland A’s looking for more Rule V Draft magic

By David Hill

OAKLAND, CA - JULY 22: General view of the Oakland Athletics logos in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum on July 22, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Athletics defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-5 in 10 innings. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JULY 22: General view of the Oakland Athletics logos in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum on July 22, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Athletics defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-5 in 10 innings. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /
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The Rule V Draft has been important for the Oakland A’s over the years.

It is a place where the A’s have been able to find pieces for their roster. The likes of Mark Canha and Vimael Machin had gotten their starts with the A’s due to the Rule V Draft, going on to fill important roles on the team. Canha eventually became one of the hottest commodities in free agency last season while Machin appears on his way to being a solid utility option in Oakland.

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The Rule V Draft also takes on added importance in Oakland. Their general refusal to spend in free agency, especially as ownership looks to pocket as much money as possible, limits their ability to supplement the roster. The A’s are in another rebuilding cycle anyway, so there is not much of a point to spending on the roster anyway.

There are several intriguing options available as noted by Jason Burke at Fan Nation. The A’s could end up finding a piece for their bullpen or outfield in the draft, possibly even both depending on how many players are selected and whether or not they look to make any deals. As the A’s have the second pick in the Rule V Draft, they will essentially have their choice of those prospects and intriguing players that were left unprotected.

Maybe the A’s can find another Canha or Machin. They certainly have the open spaces on the roster to give an intriguing option a chance, even if they struggle for most of 2023. If so, the A’s will land another possible building block as they hope to compete once again in another year or two.

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The Oakland A’s have the second overall selection in the Rule V Draft. This could be their best opportunity to add pieces to the major league roster.